The Bride He Hates-Chapter 19: Eclipse Court Princess

The hours in the study felt like an eternity.

Lyanna looked at every portrait, reading every name inscribed on the frames. She touched the toys, the books, the jewellery, and other personal objects of the deceased with tears in her eyes.

By the time Adrian knocked on the door, Lyanna’s tears had dried. She felt hollow, like an empty shell sitting on the floor surrounded by ghosts.

"Your Majesty?" Adrian’s voice was gentle. "His Majesty has asked me to escort you back to your chambers. You may compose yourself before the evening’s event."

Lyanna stood up on shaking legs, carefully placing Lily’s doll back on the table. She looked around the room one last time, at the evidence of her mother’s crimes.

"I’m sorry." She whispered in the empty room, to the dead who couldn’t hear her. "I’m so sorry."

It was meaningless, but it was all she had. She opened the door to find Adrian waiting.

"Let me take you to your chambers."

They walked in silence through the corridors. Lyanna knew she must be looking terrible. Her eyes were swollen from crying, her face was blotchy, and her hair was dishevelled. But she didn’t care.

When they reached the royal chambers, Adrian stopped.

"What His Majesty did today.... was cruel. But he’s not completely wrong. You needed to understand."

"Does understanding make it better?" Lyanna asked in her hoarse voice.

"No. But it makes you stronger." Adrian bowed slightly. "You have a few hours to prepare. Lord Richard of Eclipse Court and his daughter are arriving this evening for dinner. They couldn’t attend the wedding due to some personal matters. His Majesty wants you to perform flawlessly."

Of course he did. Even devastated by guilt, I’m expected to play the part of the perfect queen.

Clara came minutes later with the chosen gown for the evening.

"Oh, my lady!" Clara said when she saw Lyanna’s face. "What happened?"

"Nothing that matters." Lyanna’s voice was emotionless. "Help me get ready. Apparently, I have important guests to impress."

The hot water washed away her tear stains, if not the memory of what she’d seen. Clara then helped her wear the midnight blue gown Azrael had selected.

"His Majesty needs this alliance, my lady. Eclipse Court controls powerful ancient magic that can shift the balance among the vampire courts. Lord Richard is deciding whether Thornfield is worthy of partnership." Clara said as she styled her hair.

"So I need to be perfect?"

"Yes, my lady. Lord Richard is hard to please. And his daughter, Lady Sylvia, is known for being difficult. She and His Majesty have...history."

Helena had mentioned Lady Sylvia in her lesson but she didn’t know the details.

"What kind of history?" Lyanna asked.

"They were involved briefly, about two centuries ago. It ended poorly. She has still not forgiven him for choosing his ambitions over her."

Perfect. Another woman with a grudge.

A knock at the door announced Azrael’s arrival.

"Good. You cleaned up well." He said casually, as he stepped inside and looked at her. "Are you composed enough to handle dinner, or should I make excuses?"

Lyanna lifted her chin, refusing to show weakness.

"I’m ready."

He walked closer, still looking at her face.

"Your eyes are still red from crying. Both Richard and Sylvia will notice."

"Then I tell them I was overwhelmed by the beauty of my new home and wept with joy." Lyanna replied with bitter sarcasm.

Azrael smiled.

"That might actually work. Sylvia will hate it, which is a bonus." He offered her his arm. "Come. They’re already in the dining hall."

They walked through the castle in silence. When they reached the doors of the dining hall, Azrael stopped.

"Remember, we’re happily married and are madly in love. Even though everyone knows the reality of the situation, we can’t acknowledge it publicly now that we’re married."

Lyanna nodded and they both entered inside. Lord Richard and Lady Sylvia rose from their seats as Lyanna and Azrael stepped in.

Richard was unlike most vampires who maintained youthful appearances, his face showed his age.

Sylvia was his opposite, an ethereal beauty. She looked no older than nineteen, with long silver hair and features so delicate that she looked like a doll. But her eyes were cold and calculating.

"Lord Richard, Lady Sylvia," Azrael greeted them formally. "May I present my wife, Queen Lyanna of Thornfield."

Richard looked at Lyanna and looked unhappy.

"So this is the famous bride. The one who rejected you once and married you the second time."

"Circumstances change." Azrael replied, guiding Lyanna to her seat. "My wife and I have learned to understand each other."

"How romantic. A marriage of necessity blooming into affection, just like a fairy tale." Sylvia smiled.

"Sometimes the best partnerships are built on pragmatism rather than passion." Lyanna replied. "Wouldn’t you agree, Lady Sylvia?"

"I prefer passion." Sylvia replied, looking at Azrael. "But then, I’ve always been more romantic than practical."

The servants began bringing food, and dinner began with the deadly verbal sparring. Richard asked about the marriage, and about The House of Graves.

"Do you carry guilt for your mother’s betrayal, Your Majesty?" Richard asked looking at Lyanna.

"I carry the weight of my family’s actions every day, Lord Richard. But I am not my mother. I’ve chosen to build a future rather than cling to a destructive past."

"Wise words." Sylvia said, dabbing at her lips with a napkin. "But it is action that matters, not words. Tell me, Queen Lyanna, what have you done to prove your loyalty to vampire society?"

"She married me." Azrael said before Lyanna could respond, holding her hand on the table. "She accepted a marriage she didn’t initially want, adapted to a life she never chose, and has conducted herself with dignity despite being the subject of constant scrutiny and judgment." He intertwined his fingers with hers. "I’d say those actions are more than enough."

Sylvia’s expression soured slightly, and she changed her tactics.

"It must be difficult, marrying someone you once publicly humiliated. Does the guilt keep you awake at night, Your Majesty?"

"I sleep quite well, Lady Sylvia. His Majesty has ensured I’m very satisfied in our marriage."

The double meaning was subtle but clear. His fingers tightened around her hand, but whether it was in approval or warning, she didn’t know.

Richard chuckled at her reply.

"Well played, young queen. You have more spine than I expected." He said as he sipped his wine. "Tell me, what do you know about Eclipse Court and our magical traditions?"

The conversation shifted to politics, and alliances. Lyanna spoke when necessary, mostly listening and learning, but contributing enough to show she wasn’t just decorative.

Sylvia watched her with irritation, her eyes were constantly flickering between Lyanna and Azrael, clearly unhappy with the united front they were presenting.

"Alliances are built on trust. And I must confess, I’m concerned about Thornfield’s stability." He looked at Lyanna. "Your queen has a problematic heritage. Her family’s treason nearly destroyed vampire unity. How do we know she won’t betray you as her mother betrayed vampire society?"

Silence filled the room. Lyanna felt her stomach drop.

This is it. Azrael will distance himself from my tainted bloodline, he’ll publicly admit I’m just a revenge bride to secure the alliance.

His hand was still holding hers. She waited for him to pull away.

"My wife is mine. Her loyalty belongs to Thornfield and to me now." He looked at Richard with an intensity that made even him avert his gaze. "Question her again, Lord Richard, and you can take your alliance back to your home. I don’t negotiate with those who insult my queen."

Lyanna stared at him, stunned.

He is defending me, and risking this important alliance?

Richard chuckled again.

"A king who won’t defend his queen isn’t worth allying with. You passed the test, Thornfield."

It was a test. Richard had deliberately provoked Azrael to see if he would defend her or throw her aside when it was politically convenient. And Azrael had passed.

"I don’t appreciate tests, Lord Richard." Azrael’s voice was still cold.

"No one does. But they’re necessary." Richard raised his glass. "To alliances built on strength rather than weakness. Eclipse Court will stand with Thornfield."

As the conversation shifted to formal alliance negotiations, Lyanna sat there in silence, trying to process what had just happened.

Azrael had defended her. It wasn’t because he cared about her. She knew that. It was because she was his possession, and he was protective of what belonged to him.

Lyanna’s hand trembled slightly in his grip. Sylvia noticed and smiled with satisfaction, interpreting it as fear and weakness.